Game apparatus



F. SVEJNOHA GAME APPARATUS Aug. 19, 1958 3' Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1957 FIG- .1.

INVENTOR "Fauna Eweouonu M P$Mmg ATTORNEYS F. SVEJNOHA GAME APPARATUS Aug. 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1957 INVENTOR. TRANK $-1EJNQHA V ATTOQMEYS Aug. 19, 1958 F. SVEJNOHA ,2

GAME APPARATUS Filed June 28, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. FRANK SVEANOHA' ATTORNEYS United States Patent E PP R TUS Frank Svejnoha, Chicago, Ill. Application June, 28,. 1,957; Serial'-No.-668;794" 3Clairns. (Cl',1273136 The pre en einren ionre ates:10a gamei pp ratust An object ofthe present invention is to provide a game apparatus; which lends itself to the playing of multiple games such as chess, checkers, cribbage, and the like.

Another object of thepresent invention is to provide agame apparatus which enables the user to play more than one game at a time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus which has a plurality of compartments for the storage of game pieces and game components.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide -a game apparatus which; is compact in size, sturdy in construction, simple in structure, one economically manufactured and assembled, and one whichis highly effective in action.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention Will be fully apparent from the following description whentaken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the game apparatus according;to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an isometric exploded view;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of atmodification of the invention;

Figure 5 is ,an isometric view showing the use of one of the: game components;

Figure 6 is anisometric view of another game component, shown removed from the, game board;

Figure 7 is an isometric view of still another game component; and

Figure 8 is an isometric view of a still further modified form of the game component.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views, the game apparatus according to the present invention comprises, a base frame, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, and including side members 12 and 14 arranged in parallel spaced relation and end members 16 and 18 extending between and secured to the adjacent ends of the side members 12 and 14.

A bottom 20 extends between the lower ends of the side members 12 and 14 and the lower ends of the end members 16 and 18.

A supporting frame 22, having a pair of side pieces 24 and 26, arranged in parallel spaced relation, and an end piece 28 connecting one of the adjacent ends of the side pieces 24 and 26 together, is supported on the base frame 10.

As shown in Figure 3, each of the side pieces 24 and taken on the line 2-2 of i 26 has a web 30 and a pair-of flanges 32 and 34 projecting perpendicularly from-one face ofthe web 30. The side pieces24 and 26 are arranged so that the webs 30 are vertically disposed with the flanges 32 and 34 horizontally disposed and in'vertical spaced relation and facing each other. The flanges 32 and 34, together with the connecting web 30 on one side piece 24 form; with theflanges ice 2 32*and 34 and the web 30 of the pair of opposed slideways.

The supporting frame end piece 28 has a flange 36 projecting perpendicularly inwardly from the upper end or edge thereof.- The supporting frame 22 is positioned upon .the baseframe 10jso;that,the,sidepieees 24 and ,26 extend along and arespacedainwardly of the side members 12.and 14 of the base1frame 10 with the adjacent parts -;of;;,;each of jthepflanges: 34.resting upon the base frame endmembers16jand, 18. Partitions 38 extend from the flanges 34 to the bottom 20 and form with the base frame side members 12 and 14 a pair of compartments, one on each side of acentral compartment formed by the partitions 38 and .theend members 16 and 18.

Afgame board 40;;is insertable through the other end of the supporting frame 22 remote from the flange 36 and is slidable along the slideways formed by the webs 30 and the associated flanges 32 and 34 on each supporting frame side pieces 24 and 26. When so inserted, the game board 40 is movable to a position in which the inserted one end abuts against the supporting frame end piece 28, as shown in Figure 1.

The game board 40 is provided with a plurality of spaced peg holes 42 with lines inscribed upon the'game board 40, as shown in Figure 1, to form a playing surface thereon.

A plurality of fiat masking strips, designated generally by the reference numeral 44, are'superimposed upon the playing surface of the game board 40 so as to cover and block off parts of the playing surface.

Means are provided on certain of the strips 44 interengageable with one or more means provided on the upper flanges of the side pieces 24 and 26 and on the upper edge of the end piece 28 and on theadjacent edges of the game board 40 for holding the strips in assembled relation on the game board 40. Specifically, this means includes a downwardly depending leg 46 (Fig. 3) on one end of certain of the strips 44 receivable in notches formed in the flange 36, and in other notches in the edgesof the game board 40. One such notch in the flange 36 is designated by the reference numeral 48 and the corresponding notch in the game board 40 is designated by the numeral 50. Another such notch in the flange 32 is designated by the reference numeral 52, in Figure 3, and adapted, to receive the leg 46' which depends from another'of the strips 44. The corresponding notch 54 in the game board 46) is shown in the position out of registry with the notch 52.

The strips 44, 44 are arranged in intersectingrelation and have interlocking means on the intersecting ends for detachably securing the strips 44, 44' together. This interlocking means is designated generallyin Figure 3 by the reference numeral 56 and consists in complementally shaped tongues and recesses holding the strips 44 and 44, in the assembled position.

Other strips 44" (Fig. 4) are arranged in abutting end to end relation with interlocking auxiliary strips 58 pro vided and arranged, with the strips44, to cover and block off parts of the playing surface of the game board Auxiliary game components 60 are used with the strips 44" and strips.58' for the playing of certain games in which the movement of pegs (not shown) from certain holes therein are governed by rules and are made along prescribed lines along the component 60. The component 60 is flat and covers a portion of the playing surface of the board 40 although its holes 62 are in registry with certain of the holes 42 in the board 40.

Certain of the strips 58 are of a narrower width, as shown in Figure 4 and designated by the referencenumeral 58. p

In Figure 6 the flat masking strips are in the form of other side piece 26. a

segment sections as at 64 arranged in end to end abutting relation with means on the end of some of the sections interengageable with the notches 48 and 50 in the end piece 28 and the board 40, respectively. This means consists in a downwardly depending lug or leg 66 serving in the same manner as the leg 46. The means holding the section 64 in the end to end abutting relation consists in tongues and notches or recesses as at 68 in Figure 6 interconnecting the sections 64 for holding them in the assembled position when placed upon the game board 40.

In Figure 7 other game components '75 and 72 are shown and which, when resting upon the game board 40, provide means for playing other prescribed games of skill. In Figure 8, strips 74 and 76 are shown which, when superimposed upon the game board 40, cover and block out portions of the playing surface and leave portions of the playing surface accessible through openings 78 in such strips 74 and 76. This game component may be used to provide a marking peg board for the scoring of certain card games, such as cribbage or the like in which pegs are advanced in succession along a row of holes. Each strip 74 and 76 leaves portions of the game board 40 exposed and the holes 42. in such portions constitute marking means as heretofore described.

If it is found to be desirable, a cover 80, shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, may be used to protect the game board when it is in the position of nonuse. Each of the compartments on each side of the game board 40 are provided with sliding covers 82, as shown in Figure 1.

In use, the base frame 10 embodies a box for containing the components of several games and the game board 40 constitutes a cover for the open top of such box. The game board 40 is shown in a position exposing the interior of such a box in Figure 3. The strips 44, 44', 44", 58 and other components 60, 64, 70, 72, and 74 and 76, are selectively used to cover part of the playing surface of the game board 40 and exposing other parts of the game board for playing certain games. For instance, in Figure 1 the game board 40 is subdivided by the strips 44 and 44 into four areas for the playing of the game checkers. In Figures to 8, inclusive, the sections and strips are arranged to play other games which are not necessary to describe as not being a part of the present invention.

The game apparatus of the present invention may be fabricated of such materials as plastics, lightweight metals, wood, or the like, as desired. The cover may be decorated in any manner desired to designate the games which may be played using the game apparatus of the present invention.

While only preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, other embodiments are contemplated and numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a game apparatus, a base frame adapted to rest upon a table surface, said frame including a pair of side members arranged in parallel spaced relation and an end member extending between and secured to eachof the adjacent ends of said side members, a supporting frame embodying a pair of side pieces arranged in parallel spaced relation and an end piece connecting one of the adjacent ends of said side pieces together, each of said side pieces having a web and a pair of flanges projecting perpen dicularly from one face thereof, the side pieces being arranged so that the webs are vertically disposed with the flanges of the webs horizontally disposed in vertical spaced relation and facing each other and forming with the webs opposed slideways, the supporting frame end piece having a flange projecting perpendicularly inwardly from the upper edge thereof, said supporting frame being positioned upon said base frame so that the side pieces extend along and are spaced inwardly of the base side members with the adjacent parts of the lower flanges of the side pieces of said supporting frame resting upon the base frame end members, a. game board insertable through the other of the adjacent ends of said supporting frame side pieces and slidable along said slideways until the inserted end abuts against said supporting frame end piece, said game board having a playing surface on its upper face, a plurality of flat masking strips arranged in intersecting relation superimposed upon said game board surface so as to cover and block off parts of said playing surface, interlocking means on the intersecting ends of said strips dctachably securing said strips together, and means on the other ends of certain of said strips interengageable with one or more means provided on the upper flanges of said supporting frame side and end pieces and the adjacent edges of said game board for holding said strips in assembled relation on said game board playing surface.

2. In a game apparatus, a base frame adapted to rest upon a table surface, said frame including a pair of side members arranged in parallel spaced relation and an end member extending between and secured to each of the adjacent ends of said side members, a supporting frame embodying a pair of side pieces arranged in parallel spaced relation and an end piece connecting one of the adjacent ends of said side pieces together, each of said side pieces having a web and a pair of flanges projecting perpendicularly from one face thereof, the side pieces being arranged so that the webs are vertically disposed with the flanges of the webs horizontally disposed in vertical spaced relation and facing each other and forming with the webs opposed slideways, the supporting frame end piece having a flange projecting perpendicularly inwardly from the upper edge thereof, said supporting frame being positioned upon said base frame so that the side pieces extend along and are spaced inwardly of the base side members with the adjacent parts of the lower flanges of the side pieces of said supporting frame resting upon the base frame end members, a game board insertable through the other of the adjacent ends of said supporting frame side pieces and slidable along said slideways until the inserted end abuts against said supporting frame end piece, said game board having a playing surface on its upper face, a plurality of flat masking strips in the form of segment sections arranged in end to end abutting relation so as to cover and block off parts of said board playing surface, and means on one of the ends of certain of said sections interengageable with one or more means provided on the upper flanges of said supporting frame side and end pieces and the adjacent edges of said game board for holding said sections in assembled relation on said game board playing surface.

3. In a game apparatus, a base frame adapted to rest upon a table surface, said frame including a pair of side members arranged in parallel spaced relation and an end member extending between and secured to each of the adjacent ends of said side members, a supporting frame embodying a pair of side pieces arranged in parallel spaced relation and an end piece connecting one of the adjacent ends of said side pieces together, each of said side pieces having a web and a pair of flanges projecting perpendicularly from one face thereof, the side pieces being arranged so that the webs are vertically disposed with the flanges of the webs horizontally disposed in vertical spaced relation and facing each other and forming with the webs opposed slideways, the sup porting frame end piece having a flange projecting perpendicularly inwardly from the upper edge thereof, said supporting frame being positioned upon said base frame so that the side pieces extend along and are spaced inwardly of the base side members with the adjacent parts of the lower flanges of the side pieces of said supporting frame resting upon the base frame end members, a game board insertable through the other of the adjacent ends of said supporting frame side pieces and slidable along said slideways until the inserted end abuts against said supporting frame end piece, said game board hav ing a playing surface on its upper face, a plurality of sections in assembled relation on said game board playfiat masking strips in the form of segment sections aring surface.

ranged in end to end abutting relation so as to cover and block ofi parts of said board playing surface, inter- References Cited in the file of this patent locking means on the abutting ends of said sections 5 detachably securing said sections together, and means UNITED STATES PATENTS on one of the ends of certain of said sections interen- 250,458 Shay Dec. 6, 1881 gageable with one or more means provided on the upper flanges of said supporting frame side and end pieces and FOREIGN PATENTS the adjacent edges of said game board for holding said 10 92,138 Germany May 18, 1897 

